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Car buying traps to avoid

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 1. Know exactly what you want to spend    

When it comes to buying a car, knowing exactly what you want is one of the most important factors. There are many different types of cars, each one offering something unique in way of features and power. Knowing this beforehand can help you narrow down the choices that are available, allowing you to focus on choosing the right car for your needs. This will ensure that you will be satisfied with your purchase, and that you will not regret the decision that you make.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the car for your from your budget and what you can afford to what you need it for. For instance someone who lives in New York may not need the top of the line when it comes to gas mileage. The main factor depends greatly on the amount of money that you have available to spend.

Many people find that they have a budget in place before they start looking, and this budget will be affected by the cost of different cars. If you are on a very tight budget, then you may only be able to afford a base model vehicle, and this will limit your options significantly. However, if you are prepared to spend a little more money, you can look at getting a top of the range model that has all the bells and whistles. If you are driving a car that is on its last leg it is important to start saving for your car fund, this will make the process much less stressful.  This can be money saved from dining in rather than going out to eat, cancelled gym memberships, money saved from household costs such as your water and Con Ed electricity and natural gas bills, etc. Saving on household expenses is a great way to boost your savings because your electricity and natural gas bills come once a month so if you find ways to save on those monthly bills then the savings add up over time.

A luxury car will almost certainly have some safety features, such as ABS braking, satellite navigation, and so forth. If you are going to add drivers to the family, then you should spend as much as you can afford, so that you can guarantee yourself a safe car.

With these types of purchases, it is very easy to overspend and find yourself in trouble. You must know the limits and stick to them. Once you have set your spending limits, you can then look at cars within those limits. If you find something that is within your price range but not what you were hoping for, then you can move onto the next vehicle.

When you want to know exactly what you want to spend when buying a car, remember to keep an open mind. Just because you want something does not mean that you have to buy it. If you come across a car that is too expensive for what you want, consider looking at another one. The worst thing that you can do is to drive away from a car because you did not want it enough!

Once you know exactly what you want to spend when buying a car, you can then start your search. Remember to keep your options open and do not let anyone influence you into making a quick decision. Car shopping can be fun and exciting, but you must keep in mind that the decision you make will affect you for many years to come!      

 2. Sale doesn’t mean automatic savings    

It is natural for you to be concerned if the price of your dream car has suddenly gone up. If you go to a salesperson to bargain, you will be surprised that they would not offer you a lower price. In fact, most of them would be more than happy to quote a higher price on the car, because it means more money to them. There are a number of tricks that you can use when buying a car that will ensure that the price doesn’t jump up too high.

First off, you should try to know what you want before going to the dealer. You should jot down the features that you would like to have in the car and then list those things in order from least to most important. This will give you a better idea on the price range that you should expect to pay. If you don’t put in any list, then the dealer might quote you a price based on what he thought you wanted anyway, resulting in you paying more for the car.

Next, you should try to understand the policies the dealer has for trade-ins. Sometimes, these policies will allow you to buy the car as is and bring it back to the dealership to get credit for a trade-in. This is often a great deal for the buyer, since most dealers want to sell cars that they don’t want anymore, instead of letting them sit on the lot. When you take this route, however, you should check to see if the car still qualifies for a warranty.

There are many types of trade-ins, including Cash Value, Trade-In, Exchange, and New or Used. Some dealerships only buy used cars, while others give cash incentives for buying new. This can be a big mistake, though, so be sure to read up on all of your options before making a final decision.

Buying a car can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. When you are looking at a car, consider asking a few questions to determine the best price. If you know how much you want to spend, then you will be able to shop around for the most reasonable price.

 3. Don’t buy off the lot or in the show room  

It’s no secret that buying new means buying a car that may not be in your best interest financially, so what do you do when you have no choice but to buy a used vehicle? Should you always buy a used car from the show room or from the lot? There are a few reasons why you should never buy a car off the lot or from the show room.

There is a misconception among a lot of people that they should only buy new cars. While there is nothing wrong with buying new, there is nothing wrong with buying used. A car that is only a few years old is far more safe than one that is ten or fifteen years old.

The best reason not to buy a car from the lot is if you have found a car that you really like. Don’t let someone push you into the sale just because they have a dealership hanging in there or because a dealership wants to make the sale. It is your responsibility to buy the car you want. Do it on your own, research the car beforehand and then go ahead and buy it. If you are smart, you won’t end up in a dealership with a crummy car.

Genius Investor Winston Deloney On Real Estate Investing Hacks

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Successful investing in real estate has long been a proven method to grow wealth and become successful. The real estate industry is always shifting, not simply where people choose to reside.

It is not a hidden fact that property offers superior investment returns than the stock market without as much volatility. In real estate, the longer you keep your investment property, the more you will lower your chance of loss.

If the market improves, the value of your home improves. This is why you cannot just abruptly decide to go into this industry without any form of background knowledge. 

Winston Deloney, a real estate expert with a wide range of knowledge and experience will be sharing some important real estate hacks that will guide you on the journey to becoming a successful real estate investor.

What is Real Estate Appreciation

This is when a property becomes more valuable as a result of a shift in the real estate market. Real estate appreciation is a difficult game since predicting is not simple.

It is more risky than investing in cash flow revenue. This why it is imperative you study the market in general very carefully.

A couple of people think real estate investors are dishonest. Is this true?

Real estate investors are not generally obliged to fulfill any specific ethical commitments. While this scenario is simple to exploit, most successful real estate investors maintain high ethical standards. 

Winston Deloney as an expert, how does can one discover one’s niche?

You must adopt a focus to acquire the breadth of information that is required to succeed. Taking the time to develop this expertise in a certain field is a vital part of long-term success.

Some niches may include residential high-end, low-income multi-unit housing, or rural rehabilitation. Carefully examining all the various aspects of real estate will make it very easy for you to know which one you will love to focus fully on.

Related: Winston Deloney On How He Overcame Challenges As A Real Estate Investor

Winston Deloney, how can an investor know the right place to buy properties?

To successfully invest in real estate, your attention should also be on the placement of the property on the market. You have to invest in the areas with a large population density and all the necessary services nearby.

The following are things to watch out for in areas that are good for investment.

  • Low rate of crime
  • Superb schools
  • Access to parks and recreational areas
  • Access to medical attention
  • Public transit access
  • Shopping centers and eateries access

All these are good indications of a promising neighborhood.

Apart from the popular family housing units and apartments what other properties can one invest in that will give good returns?

Rental properties are still the best way to build a slow and steady wealth.

Real estate investments do not only mean investing in one-family houses and apartment complexes. Although rental properties are still the best way to build a slow and steady wealth, you can as well invest in office buildings, storage facilities, industrial premises, and warehouses.

For businesses and construction, a triple net lease may minimize total expenses when the tenant covers basic insurance and pays property taxes and upkeep. Your investment then produces consistent cash flow with little pocket costs.

Also Read: Real Estate Expert Winston Deloney Shares Common Mistakes All Landlords Should Avoid

Tom Chang MD Professional Case Study

Tom Chang MD, eye surgeon and educator, is a world-renowned ophthalmologist who has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is a researcher. He and his associates have performed stem-cell surgeries that improved vision and changed the lives of hundreds of people. He emphasizes the need for catching eye diseases early. Many degenerative and progressive diseases can be detected at an eye exam before symptoms even begin developing. The earlier the diagnosis, the more effective the treatment will be.

Tom Chang MD Lecturer and Educator

Tom Chang MD has given more than 150 lectures on ophthalmology in 15 countries. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Mandarin. In addition to his lectures, he has published more than 50-peer reviewed articles.

Dr. Chang is the founder and manager of Acuity Eye Group which has multiple locations throughout California. In 2005, Dr. Chang, clinician, surgeon, and educator, founded the Retina Institute of California (RIC).

Tom Chang MD, along with other team members, performed the first implantation of stem cells for the treatment of macular degeneration. Since that time, the eye surgeons at RIC have performed more sub-retinal stem cell surgeries than any other center in the world.

His main research and treatment interests are in macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He believes patients must be educated on the importance of speaking up when they have any concerns about their vision or any other eye problem.

Tom Chang MD and Patient Relationships

Tom Chang MD believes patient care is a collaborative process between doctor and patient. With this approach, patients learn to be proactive about their own care. They learn how early detection can improve outcomes. This means they will have annual examinations and regularly communicate with their eye care professional.

When patients are well-informed, they make better decisions. Dr. Chang believes that far too often patients hesitate to ask questions. Doctors should establish communication with their patients so their patients will feel free to ask questions about any of their concerns or changes in their health. Tom Chang MD works diligently to create an environment that is welcoming and where patients will ask the questions they need to ask and not be intimidated.

Some specific educational topics patients should be aware of are:

  • Periodic visits. People should routinely see their ophthalmologists once a year.
  • Consult an ophthalmologist if vision changes. Contacting their ophthalmologist when there is any change in their vision.
  • Sun safety for the eyes. Repeated exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause retina damage and increase the risk of cataract development. Protective eyewear should always be worn outside by children and adults, even on cloudy days. The glasses should provide 100 percent UV rays protection.
  • Physical eye protection. This should be used in certain jobs and hobbies. It is devastating when an accident causes someone’s vision to be lost or compromised when the loss could have been prevented by the use of eye protective gear.
  • Healthy diet. A healthy diet is good for overall well-being and health, but particularly to maintain eye health.
  • Hydration for the eyes. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day helps maintain proper hydration for the eyes so that dust and debris can be washed away to keep the eye free from damage.

Tom Chang MD works to develop streams of communication with his patients. There is proof that patient engagement improves patient outcomes.

Tips on How to Fight a Speeding Ticket

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Nothing can ruin your day faster than a speeding ticket. It’s an emotional experience, one that comes with a hefty financial burden attached and possible points on your license. It doesn’t take this San Jose car accident attorney to tell you how dangerous speeding can be, but most adults receive a ticket at some point in their lives.

So, what can you do to minimize the impact this ticket will have on your life? There are ways you can fight speeding tickets to lessen the fines, points on your license, and seek leniency from the judge. Take a look at these tips from drivers who have been through the wringer more than once.

Keep Your Cool

Your emotions are going to run high as the officer issues the ticket, but it’s in your best interest to remain calm. Don’t argue, don’t try to persuade the officer to let this slide, and never attempt a bribe unless you want another citation. Just be as respectful as possible during the encounter.

Sign Your Copy

In most states, the officer will head back to their vehicle to get the paperwork ready. This includes a paper copy of your ticket that you’re expected to sign in front of the officer. To make this encounter as fast as possible, sign it so you can be on your way.

Doublecheck the Ticket

Before you drive off, take the time to check all of the information on the ticket. Your personal and contact information should be accurate, as well as the location where you were pulled over. The officer’s name, the posted speed limit, and the speed you were travelling also need to be correct.

Finally, check the ticket for your date in court. If you have any questions or see an error, the officer will still be there to explain the process or make corrections. Don’t try to argue with them about how fast you were going, though.

Fighting the Ticket in Court

Showing up prepared is your best defense. You need to thoroughly understand the ticket as well as municipality rules about speeding. You’ll also need to know a few tricks that might get you off the hook and have your ticket dismissed.

First, ask to see the officer’s paperwork. There’s a good chance the judge will dismiss your ticket if they don’t have it. Second, read over your ticket to see what device the officer used to measure your speed. If there isn’t a device listed, you can argue that this is a violation of your due-process rights.

When fighting your ticket, you need to tell the judge you are not guilty of said USA crime. Proving this is difficult but can be done. There are a series of reasons a judge might choose to be lenient with your case. Try the following if they pertain to your situation:

  • You were only traveling 5 to 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit
  • There was an absence of traffic
  • Weather conditions caused you to slide on rain or ice
  • There were no speed limit signs for miles

Explain the event in detail. Be as thorough as possible, staying respectful and level headed throughout your explanation. With a little luck, or the help of an attorney, you might be able to walk away without any fines or points on your license.

Life Empowerment Coach Rose Young Shares How To Turn Brokenness Into Empowerment

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At some point in their lives, most people will feel defeated and want to surrender due to difficult situations that come to their lives. Brokenness comes in many forms. It is the feeling of emptiness or bitterness. Depression and excessive anxiety are all associated with brokenness.

But for life empowerment coach Rose Young, brokenness could clear the way for a person’s empowerment. Coach Rose is very familiar with the feeling associated with brokenness since she had been in that situation before. She endured two car accidents that brought her to the lowest point in her life.

“Brokenness and pain are part of life. Usually, when people experience difficult situations, they ask themselves why those things are happening to them. “Nonetheless, many of us fail to realize that every brokenness or painful time is developing something within us that can only happen during tough times. We can say our brokenness and pain can be instruments of change,” Coach Rose shared. She added that it is essential to learn how to turn brokenness into empowerment.

Disruption And Transformation

Coach Rose not only experienced one but two life-changing car accidents that changed her life forever.

While driving her car in 2008, Coach Rose got involved in a road mishap between three vehicles. It was a horrifying experience that left her with multiple injuries. “I sustained injuries in my neck, my left leg, and my back,” Coach Rose recalled. But she got the worst injury on her lower back. The pain was so severe that she could not walk, sit, or stand for more than five minutes before changing her position.

Several years later, Coach Rose was once again involved in another car accident involving two cars and four vehicles. She suffered multiple injuries due to the strong impact caused by the car collisions. Like in the first car accident, her back was severely affected by the car collisions that she experienced constant pain after the incident.

Coach Rose recounted that those life-changing events disrupted and transformed her life. “It disrupted my life. I previously worked in the healthcare sector as a certified cardiologist technologist and Personal healthcare worker. But I lost my work due to the car accidents and ended my career in the healthcare industry,” she said.

However, Coach Rose explained that the life-changing events might have disrupted her life, but they also paved the way for her life’s transformation. She said that it disrupted her from being a healthcare professional to transform her into a life and mindfulness coach. “If those events did not happen, I would never become an inspiration to others,” she continued.

“In addition, those painful events allowed me to discover that my Why in life is my three children and the power of positive thoughts,” Coach Rose said. She realized that she was not only responsible for herself, but she has three young teens who depend on her. “My children are the reason why I decided to pull myself together. I know that if I am walking in the dark, they are also walking in the dark. And I cannot stand that thought,” she added.

Coach Rose also learned the power of positive thinking in overcoming brokenness. “I would not have won my battle against brokenness without the help of positive thoughts,” she explained. Coach Rose focused her attention on my life’s positive things to overcome pain, anxiety, and depression. Every morning, she said positive things to herself. She also created the so-called “What I am Thankful For List,” wherein she wrote everything good about her life every day.

How Can She Help You?

Coach Rose is a Life Empowerment and Mindfulness Coach who helps others overcome their brokenness and pain and turn it into empowerment. She guides aspiring leaders to formulate a plan to grow their businesses and continue to pursue their dreams.

Coach Rose shares the valuable lessons that she acquired from those painful events. She guides other people on overcoming difficult situations in life and empowering them to move towards their destiny. “I overcame my past by not allowing my mind to play the blaming game. I gained control of my surroundings and thoughts, which helped me get out of my brokenness,” she said.

Coach Rose empowers other people with encouraging words by providing a glimpse of her survival story and testimonials from those who have successfully conquered brokenness. “I help them find clarity on what they want and see the possibilities. I urge them to have greater expectations of themselves. Once they have that expectation, they are empowered to follow their hearts and accomplish their dreams,” Coach Rose said.

Coach Rose is a Master Coach who earned multiple coaching certifications in different industry areas, including leadership and business coaching. She is also a known affiliate of America’s Best Confidence Coach, Dr. Keith Johnson, and the Destiny Coaching Group.

Start your journey with Coach Rose to overcome brokenness and move towards your destiny with confidence.

Try These Real Estate Tricks With Tom Cruz & Scale Like A Pro

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It is vital to recognize your capacity for growth and thus withhold from stretching yourself too thin. Although speed and efficiency are critical components to any extension strategy, you need to scale your business at a pace that allows you to implement newer technology, improve the systems you have in place and recruit the best talent possible. 

Thomas Cruz is an expert in the real estate world that teaches people how to start and scale their property portfolio. This real estate investor and the coach was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil but moved to the US with his family when he was 5. After graduating from the University of North Carolina Wellington, Thomas joined the real estate investment where he bought his first Condo with the bit of money he had. Today, he is the founder of Cruz properties, an investment company that owns and manages $25M in commercial and residential real estate throughout the South Eastern United States. Thomas knows that growth is within your hands, and if you try the following tricks, you will scale your real estate business like a pro. 

Reinvesting

Did you know that reinvesting in a real estate business determines your growth? Reinvesting brings an increase in revenue and profit to your business. By adding new products, buying more property, your business can attract more customers and increase its revenue streams. Besides, new sources of income help enclose your business from the risks of working with one primary source of income that might dry up at some point. 

Reinvesting your income in real estate entirely depends on the goals you set for yourself. You should set goals to give you long-term visions, a clear focus on essential things, motivation, and direction. Also, people who reinvest their profit in real estate obtain financial freedom, and they can retire with enough money to maintain their lifestyle. Ways to reinvest your real estate income include; purchasing an additional investment property, remodeling the existing property, investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and acting as a private lender.

After Thomas bought his first Condo, he rented it out after about a year and purchased another property with funds generated from wholesaling properties and marketing side hustle. He continued reinvesting and buying more Condos and single-family homes. 

Teamwork

Teamwork is one of the most vital factors that lead to success in the real estate business. Why is teamwork essential for a realtor, investor, or agent? It improves communication and contact with your colleagues. As a result, you will get more leads and clients due to improved knowledge. Teamwork also helps you to develop self-confidence, which is critical in every aspect of life. Thomas embraced teamwork by partnering with higher individuals, and it enabled him to buy more homes, buy out his partners and hold hundreds of single-family properties at 32 years old. 

Digital Marketing

Social media is one of the favorite tools in digital marketing, closing deals, and scoring clients in the real estate business. Compared to other sources, social media springs the highest quality leads. Digital platforms help investors to build a robust online presence to get noticed fast. Using digital marketing strategies has a much more significant impact on your real estate career than traditional marketing strategies. It involves getting your name and competence out there to help you generate more inbound leads. 

Thomas uses digital platforms as a goldmine for his real estate business. Amazingly, when he was 30 years old, he purchased 92 single-family homes for $6M and sold them for $10M 18 months later. He has amassed a following of 18000 people on Instagram and 600000 people on TikTok. 

Teaching People

Thomas is an expert in affordable single-family housing portfolios. He teaches people who are new in this industry how to get started and scale significantly. Thomas is the CEO of CashFlow Pros, which provides the resources, expertise, and tools essential in becoming successful in developing a passive real estate portfolio. He also provides real estate investors step-by-step tutorials and weekly group coaching. 

If you try Thomas’s above strategies, you will stand out among the crowd and become a successful real estate investor. You can also connect to Thomas Cruz on; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tcruznc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tcruznc

Website: https://www.passivecashflow.co

Best Practices in Value Selling

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What separates the average salesperson from the spectacular? According to the Sales Benchmark Index, a mere 13% of sales representatives in B2B markets comprise 87% of all revenue. That statistic shows a clear gap between top-tier sellers and the rest. The secret to their success lies in the word value.

Both evidence and research show that value-based selling techniques are the key factor separating the average salesperson from those who generate the most revenue. If you’re looking for top-of-the-line revenue numbers, then check out these best practices in value selling guaranteed to close sales.

Focus on Solving a Problem

Customers are looking for solutions to the problems they or their organizations face, which isn’t a new concept. Those solutions are valuable to them, however, making this classic element of sales one of the most vital in value selling.

In most cases, the goal is to help your prospect become aware of a problem they have and the value your solution offers in fixing it. This can also include drawing the prospect’s attention to high-impact aspects of the issue they are facing, especially those they may not have realized.

Be Specific

Every company has a unique value proposition, but those statements are designed to reach a target audience as a whole. To better sell that value, salespersons need to get specific with each potential customer. Your product or service holds a unique value to each prospect. So, rely on those personal connections.

Use the Right Tools

Value selling also takes place behind the scenes. With the right customer value management tools, you can better equip salespeople to close those essential deals. While each interactions with a prospect is unique, it helps to send your representatives in with all the ammo they need.

Keep it Simple

When selling value, it’s best to avoid long conversations or lengthy pitches. Instead, focus on getting to the meat of the matter as quickly as possible. The value isn’t in the build-up, it’s in the product or service you’re selling as it relates to the prospect’s life.

Focus on the Buyer

It isn’t uncommon for sales reps to hyper focus on their process or routine. There’s nothing wrong with practicing your pitch, but it’s vital that you keep the buyer and their needs in mind to facilitate the process.

In a transaction, the role of the salesperson is only one small part of the process. Ultimately, it’s the prospect’s buying decision journey that plays the largest factor and determines whether your sale is valuable or not. So, build your approach from the buyer’s mindset.

Qualify Out When Necessary

At the end of the day, there are just times when you have to qualify out. Even with best practices and top-quality tools at your disposal, there may come a time when your solution or offer isn’t distinctive or high-value enough for the prospect.

Before quantifying out, always reassess the situation to find places where you can build increased value. Even a simple once-over can show you something the prospect may find valuable that you’ve left out or overlooked. However, don’t spend too long value selling to any one prospect.

Love It or List It – When To Fix and When To Sell

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If you’re a homeowner and you’re not happy about your current living situation, you have two options: to renovate or move. There’s a lot of factors to consider when making this decision.

Should I Renovate or Sell

Whenever we are unhappy with certain aspects of our home, we find ourselves wondering whether we should buy a new or upgrade the existing one. Both moving and renovating can be stressful, costly, and time-consuming. Before you weigh the pros and cons,

you should consider these four questions.

What is cheaper?

For many people, cost is a major factor. Which one of the two will cost you more depends on your current mortgage situation, as well as how much money you have saved up. Renovations come with immediate, out-of-pocket expenses, whereas moving can put money in your pocket now but it will cost you a lot more down the line.

The emotional side of things

You could be more attached to your home than you realize so make sure you consider the emotional implications as letting go of memories can be hard and painful.

Is the timing right?

Moving may mean changing school districts, commute routes, and mortgage costs. On the other hand, if you need cash to pay for your child’s college, it’s better to sell than invest in a costly renovation.

Is it a good time to sell?

Will you be getting the most out of your investment? Market conditions will greatly influence the resale price of your property and there are seasonal trends to consider.

Pros and Cons of Renovating and Moving

There are pros and cons to both options.

Relocating is a great opportunity to upgrade your equity portfolio. If the current option is no longer affordable, downsizing can resolve your problems and alleviate your financial strains. It is above all a change in perspective and an opportunity to improve your wellbeing, once the moving stress subsides. If anything, you will avoid the stress of long renovations.

On the other hand, there will be moving costs involved, a lot of packing and unpacking and you need to search for your new home. Sometimes, this can take a while so you will have to either compromise or just spend more time looking for the perfect home that is in a desired location and that fits within your budget.

Renovating is a great way to personalize the space to suit your needs. The right kind of upgrade will increase the resale value of your home if you do decide to sell someday.

On the other hand, you risk losing money on your investment if prospective buyers don’t find your upgrade valuable. Renovations almost always come with delays and hidden costs. Last but not least, as you’ll be staying around during renovations, you need to prepare to live in a construction zone and consider factors like dust suppression.

How to increase your home’s value

If you are going to spend money on a property, you should make sure the curb appeal is strong. A flat house can be enriched with a front porch that conveys a sense of welcome. If all your remodeling is on the inside but the outside of the house is challenging, you’ll never have a chance to even show the inside.

Basic maintenance such as replacing siding, windows, doors and roofs, are frequently more important than an awesome kitchen. Maintenance can chew up a lot of cash quickly, and people are afraid of that. Besides, new kitchens and baths lose some of their glamour if there’s water in the basement. 

Making your home more energy efficient is always a good choice both if you are staying or selling your home. These upgrades pay for themselves as efficient upgrades lower your home’s household bills such as your ConEd utility bill and buyers are well aware of this feature which is why they are willing to pay a premium for it.

Takeaway

In the show “Love it or List it”, the majority of these homeowners end up realizing it’s more affordable and desirable to make their own home more lovable than it is to purchase a new one that fits their needs. But everyone’s different and you should do whatever makes your life better. Before you decide, you should sit down with your household members to consider all the factors and make it easier for everyone involved. 

The Musical Journey of YousicPlay’s Owner Alain Merville

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Unlike most musicians, Alain Merville is a creative who has leveraged his skillset to help others in his career to grow through a nurturing program. Alain Merville is the CEO and founder of YousicPlay.com. This platform allows music students worldwide to access the most excellent musicians and comprehensive lessons to all talent and experience levels. This way, he helps artists break into the competitive industry, helping them develop their skills through advanced training. 

Alain is also a professor of music at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston. He brings a wide range of experience in the music field to his work, being an artist, manager, and cultivator of talent. He has a powerful musical journey, taking up several roles at a go and the stronghold of any project he brings about. Alain thrills crowds with charisma and authenticity, infusing gospel, playing piano, and spreading harmony through his music. He has gone against the odds to achieve the incredible.  

Alain Merville Background

Alain is an immigrant from Haiti who moved to the US at the age of 7. Having no music background in the family, he rocked his musical journey making the most discoveries. Merville first learned to play the piano at the age of 14, taking lessons for one year before playing gigs in New York at the age of 15. He polished his skills when he attended Berklee College of Music. He got opportunities to work as a Musical Director for artists in New York, where he arranged and produced music. He then started posting videos of himself playing piano, explaining the different concepts he played. A primary Gospel Piano e-learning platform discovered his videos and invited him to feature in one of their courses, which spotlighted the gospel keyboard world. This notoriety pushed him to give piano lessons via Skype. 

Career Highlights

In 2015, the ambitious, skilled, and young black entrepreneur started Nate Bash Band company named after his son, Nathan. It was a live music entertainment firm that provided live music for weddings, college parties, and corporate events. He ran the Nate Bash Band (NBB) for three years, where he recruited, auditioned, and trained his band members. He oversaw over 25 clients a year, and in every gig, he was the emcee, lead keyboardist, live sound engineer, point of contracts for clients, van driver, and vendor. Following his passion and ambition to make considerable strides in music, he learned to take on multiple roles at once. After creating his first online piano instructional course and making returns of over $50,000 in the first few months from an investment of $1,500, the idea of YousicPlay struck. It was in his 2nd year running Nate Bash Band.

A more prominent company in the same live music entertainment industry acquired NBB in 2018. As part of the acquisition, the company assigned Alain the Director of Operations role. For two years, he worked at the company, taught at Berklee College of Music, acted as a bandleader in a local church, and kept working on YousicPlay. In 2019, together with his team, they recorded their first online course. In their first year, YousicPlay had a massive organic growth in students and community. 95% of their students chose to recommend YousicPlay to a friend. The success led him to fully transition from Director of Operations to running YousicPlay, being his mainstream income. 

Achievements

Alain has also worked hard for YousicPlay, and in such a short duration, his team has expanded to a COO, CTO, in-house video editors, graphic designers, admins, marketing team, and on-boarded Grammy Winning World-class instructor like Ne-Yo. They were also capable of paying one of their instructors over $50,000 in course sales revenue in the first two months of his course release during Covid-19 when musicians were no longer able to do gigs and tours. Alain and his team are ready to use this momentum to scale and disrupt the entire E-learning industry. He has worked with top-notch clients like Ne-Yo, Lindsey Stirling, Cory Henry, and Arturo Sandoval.

Conclusion

Alain Merville has indeed done exceptional work to get to where he is in piano playing, leading a band, and training young artists. And it is indeed by helping others that you grow. To get more insights into music, you can follow YousicPlay on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Ways to Use Life Insurance to Pay for Retirement

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Life insurance, at its core, is a way to provide for your beneficiaries financially in the event of your passing. However, a permanent policy can also be an excellent way to support yourself during retirement by creating a steady stream of income. 

To make this possibility a reality, it helps to understand how different types of permanent life insurance can accrue cash value for you to take advantage of. Check out these ways you can use life insurance to pay for retirement. 

Cash Value and Whole Life

Whole life provides a lump sum death benefit upon the policy holder’s passing along with set premiums at the start of the policy. Unlike its cousin, term insurance, whole life is designed to last for exactly as long as the name implies. 

This type of policy also comes with a cash value that increases over the lifetime of the policy. Your insurer sets an interest rate, investing your premiums and paying that back into the cash pool. You can then choose to withdraw the cash or use it to borrow against the policy. 

Borrowing aside, the ability to withdraw from this continually growing cash value can provide some extra income for retirement. In addition to Social Security, and depending on the price of your policy’s premiums, this can be an excellent way to help pay for retirement while also providing for your beneficiaries at the end. 

Universal Life Investments

Whole life policies come with a high cost in premiums and limited control over your cash value, which leads many to look at universal life insurance as a better alternative. When it comes to insurance for seniors, this is one of the most flexible options available. 

Like whole life, universal increases its cash value over time as you make your premium payments. However, you can choose to pay only the cost of your insurance if you’re having a tougher financial year or choose to pay more towards the cash value when you’re having a good year. 

You also have more control over where your policy’s investments go. Once your policy management costs are deducted, the rest is yours to invest how you choose. In a whole life policy, the insurer chooses the investments for you. 

This can lead to a much higher return on investment if you make smart decisions. However, it also comes with more risk. By investing in the vehicles of your choice, your savings are left equally as exposed as stock market or other similar types of investments. Regardless, you can rely on the cash for retirement in the same way you would with a whole life policy. 

Converting to an Annuity

In order to create a reliable stream of income from your policy’s cash value, the best option is to convert your gains into an annuity. You simply sign a contract with your insurer, fund the annuity with your cash value, and the insurance companies pays you in fixed installment for the rest of your life. 

This is known as a 1035 exchange is tax-free. Many insurers also continue to pay benefits to your spouse after you pass for an additional cost. Keep in mind that opting for annuity limits the amount of money your beneficiaries receive from the policy. It’s an excellent option for funding retirement, but you might want a different policy to cover your loved financially if you opt for an annuity.